Tonight is the last meeting of the Ninth Precinct Community Council this summer, and one subject is sure to come up: the recent uptick in crime in the East Village.
According to the latest crime statistics compiled by the Police Department, felony assaults have increased by 33 percent in the last 28 days in comparison with the same period last year. Robberies are up 29 percent when comparing the same time frames.
In the year to date, overall crime is up by roughly 3 percent when compared to 2011, according to statistics.
The spike comes amid recent high-profile incidents in the neighborhood, including the first homicide of the year, as well as a stabbing in East River Park.
The police are still investigating yesterday’s early-morning shooting at the Jacob Riis Houses, and have yet to name a suspect. A police spokesperson revealed today that the victim was a 39-year-old woman. According to the police, the gunman, who was on a bicycle, was having a dispute with another man and fired on a crowd at 903 East Sixth Street, injuring the woman who is not thought to have been his intended target.
Check The Local later for a report from tonight’s meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Ninth Precinct stationhouse at 321 East Fifth Street.